Chronic back pain and cannabis: severe pain, no sitting, lying down, sleeping – experiences

Six years of severe pain, no sitting, no lying down, no sleep. After several herniated discs, he developed a chronic pain syndrome that completely disrupted his everyday life. Conventional medication hardly helped, morphine made everything worse. Only medical cannabis brought the change he had been looking for for years. Click here to return to the overview: Cannabis as a medicine for illnesses.

How medicinal cannabis works: briefly explained

Medical cannabis has been available on prescription in Germany since 2017. It contains active ingredients such as THC & CBD, which act via the endocannabinoid system in the body. In cases of chronic pain, it can reduce muscle tone, slow down inflammatory processes, improve sleep and balance nervous stress. Important: Cannabis is usually used when other medications are no longer sufficiently effective.

• THC + CBD as the main active ingredients
• Acts via the endocannabinoid system
• Prescribable by doctor since 2017

Julian’s initial situation: pain, morphine, standstill

Julian describes his condition as “nothing but pain”. Nothing worked anymore – neither movement nor normal everyday life. Only morphine brought brief relief, but led to severe side effects and a physical crash. Then he switched to cannabis – the first real relief.

• Pain since herniated disc
• Morphine → strong side effects
• Cannabis → noticeable improvement

Therapy with specialists: fine-tuning and effect

In the video, the doctor explains that cannabis can have a pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory and sleep-promoting effect. The therapy must be adjusted individually, as the effect varies greatly depending on the patient, strain and dosage. Advantage: Fewer typical side effects than with opioids.

• Individualized dosage necessary
• Effect on pain & sleep
• Minor side effect with correct setting

Cannabis treatment: digital, medical, accompanied

Julian found a specialist doctor. Doctor’s appointments take place digitally via video consultation, prescriptions are filled at the pharmacy – often with mail order. Costs average around €200 per month, but other therapies can be omitted.

• Digital follow-up appointments monthly
• Prescription supply via pharmacies
• Medication instead of long-term medication

Safety, travel & therapy pass: What patients need to know

Patients receive treatment records for documentation – important for traffic checks. During the first few weeks, caution should be exercised when driving, as the body needs to get used to THC. Traveling with cannabis within the Schengen area is legal if a prescription and documentation are available.

• Therapy passport for check-ups
• Car only after familiarization
• Traveling with a prescription within Schengen

More quality of life instead of constant pain: Julian’s result

After years of pain, Julian gets his life back. Less medication, better sleep, mobility, energy – cannabis was crucial for him. His story is representative of many patients for whom cannabis works when conventional approaches fail.

• Fewer pain symptoms
• Sleep & everyday life stabilized
• Quality of life returned